Buffs Practice Report: Noyer Gets Comfortable At Safety; Chiaverini on WR Rotation
August 20, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — It is no doubt a late start — but when all is said and done, it won't be a surprise if former quarterback Sam Noyer sees some action at safety this season for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Noyer, a junior, has never played anything but quarterback in his three seasons in Boulder. But when head coach Mel Tucker called him in for a meeting Sunday and proposed the position switch, Noyer readily agreed.
"I told him I want to do whatever is best for the team, whatever that is," Noyer said Tuesday after his second practice at his new position. "If that's me playing safety, if that's me playing quarterback, if that's me playing special teams, receiver — whatever it is, I just want what's best for the team. We had a long conversation about it and felt pretty good by the end of it."
Of the four scholarship quarterbacks on Colorado's roster at the beginning of camp, Noyer might be the overall most athletic. He has good speed and quickness, has the build for a safety (6-4, 220) and has never been shy of contact.
In fact, that might be one of the things that turned Tucker's head when it came to the switch.
Last year, Noyer showed his physical side in CU's game against Washington State. After throwing an interception, Noyer delivered a bruising hit on defensive back Kedron Williams on the return. Noyer was actually flagged for targeting on the tackle, but the penalty was overturned on review.
"He saw my hit last year against Washington State and he was just like 'I think you'd be a really good addition to our defense,'" Noyer said with a grin.
Noyer readily admits the transition won't happen overnight. But even Tuesday morning, only his second day at the spot, he looked comfortable at the spot. He got some repetitions with the No. 2 defense, showed a propensity for contact — and even had an interception in the end zone.
"It's definitely a little different, but I played a little safety in high school so it's kind of back to fundamentals," Noyer said. "Different techniques, different movements, whole different playbook, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. I'm almost comfortable. Just have to keep working and get my nose in that playbook more."
Noyer had been in a tight battle with sophomore Tyler Lytle and redshirt freshman Blake Stenstrom for the backup job behind senior Steven Montez. He had done nothing to fall behind in the battle, but the Buffs are also searching for depth at safety.
The most experienced player at the position is graduate transfer Mikial Onu, who has 20 starts under his belt. After that, players getting regular snaps with the top units in camp include juniors Derrion Rakestraw (two career starts) and Aaron Maddox (108 plays on defense last year), sophomore Isaiah Lewis and true freshman Mark Perry. Onu appears to have moved into a solid spot with the No. 1 group, but the other is still up for grabs.
Noyer just wants to catch up as quickly as possible.
"I think right now, I can run to the ball pretty well," he said. "I'm still learning the defense. As a quarterback, it's pretty easy. I knew a lot of the defense, it's just getting used to different language. I would say I have pretty good ball skills, I can move around the field pretty well. Obviously with the quarterback you have to be a good communicator. Just communicating with the guys once I get all these calls down, that's a big strength of mine as well."
And, he says he's full invested in the move — and is looking forward to being able to deliver hits instead of absorb them.
"It's a lot of fun for me," he said. "Flying around and being able to get my head on the ball and making plays, laying the wood here and there, it's definitely a different thing. It's a change for me, but at the same time, I'm kind of used to it. Definitely more bumps and bruises on my body but that's something I'm going to have to get used to."
WR ROTATION: With what is generally considered to be one of the nation's top 15 receiving groups, CU wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini will soon have to decide what kind of rotation he wants to employ on game days.
As it stands now, there are no less than six wideouts who have been vying for playing time. The group includes senior Tony Brown, juniors Laviska Shenault Jr. and K.D. Nixon, sophomores Maurice Bell and Daniel Arias, and redshirt freshman Dimitiri Stanley.
Making the equation even more complex? True freshman Vontae Shenault has also had an outstanding camp and will be difficult to keep off the field.
The key, Chiaverini said Tuesday morning, will be if the Buffs offense can move the chains. That will allow him to utilize some kind of rotation.
"I think we go probably six to eight deep as far as rotation, as far as the total number of guys that can play for us," Chiaverini said. "It's just going to be a matter of flow and first downs. You have to stay away from three and outs. Three and outs are what kill rotations for receivers. You have to stay on the field. I feel good about the first two groups and I feel good about Vontae Shenault coming along, too."
The most well-known of the group is the elder Shenault, but Nixon has also had a consistent, big-play fall camp and the others have all had their moments as well. Nixon is also emerging as a team leader, both by example and vocally.
"The way we finished last year (seven straight losses) wasn't good enough," Chiaverini said. "We had to create competition within that room to continue to get better. I like what I'm seeing out of K.D. He's a leader. He won't let those guys slip up. It's a different mindset with these kids. There's a lot more competition, too. There's a lot more guys in the twos that are pushing the ones and that makes for a better football team."
TRIVIA: In honor of Noyer's move to safety, we'll throw this in: name the former NFL All-Pro safety who played quarterback until his junior year of college (answer below).
PRACTICE REPORT: The Buffs were in full pads for Tuesday morning's workout, their 17th practice of camp. CU now has eight practices remaining before the Aug. 30 season opener against Colorado State in Denver (8 p.m., ESPN) …
Along with Noyer's interception, the CU defense also got a pick from true freshman Tarik Lucket — who also switched positions this camp. The former wide receiver continues to be impressive at cornerback … Senior Alex Tchangam has been playing opposite sophomore Carson Wells at outside linebacker the last couple of days, with senior Nu'umotu Falo also getting some work there … Aaron Maddox got some work alongside Mikial Onu at safety with the No. 1s … Isaiah Lewis, who has also had time there, had some nice plays with the No. 2 group …
Offensively, freshman running back Jaren Mangham had some good bursts up the middle and got plenty of reps with the No. 1 offense … Joe Davis, another freshman back, is proving to be a physical runner … Yes, you've seen this before, but it happens every day — Laviska Shenault Jr. continues to make big plays look easy … Daniel Arias hauled in a long touchdown from Steven Montez in the 2-minute drill, catching it perfectly in stride.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Former Broncos and Bucs great John Lynch began his career at Stanford as a backup quarterback before transitioning to safety before his junior season.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
